Transforming License Plates into Pieces of Art in the Motor City

Can license plates be art? Yes! Amanda Holt has grabbed our attention and made us believe in her vision of license plate art. She is a budding Etsy artist that sees the potential in things that are often looked over and ignored. She creates new products out of old license plates such as belts, necklaces, earrings, signs, etc. We are hooked on her site and wanted to get to know the artist behind the work. Who is Amanda Holt, what are her inspirations?

Jesse Thomas: How did you first decide to work with license plates and other reclaimed materials?

Amanda Holt: I have always admired quality items made from items someone might throw away. That sort of creativity makes me extremely happy. I decided to use license plates in particular to create new products when I really wanted some items for myself, but no one made the quality product for which I was looking. So, with the help of my problem-solving husband, I had to make them myself! The process took so much work and turned out to be so much fun that I have made license plate art a permanent hobby!

JT:What inspires your work?

AH: When I was in art class in college, one assignment involved using a single square shape in a series of drawings. Thus, I saw that rectangle all over in life. Now, as my main product is belt buckles inlaid with license plate pieces, I look at a rectangle as my canvas. Sometimes the rectangle looks to me as a cassette tape, or perhaps a playing card, a video game controller, etc. Also, the license plates themselves inspire me. We’ve hardly had license plates for 100 years, and in the 50 states alone, there’s been a lot of creativity exercised by their designers. It’s a challenge to use every piece in some way. In addition, I often look at an item that already exists and wonder, ”Could I make this with license plates?” Look out… I have already thought of many more things to create!

JT:What is your favorite piece?

AH: All my creations are like my children… I find it hard to part with them. But when it becomes especially hard, I don’t fight it; after all, I got into this business to make awesome upcycled items for myself! My collection is growing, including a British Flag buckle, an Alphabet sign on reclaimed wood, a pair of leaf-shaped license plate earrings, a license plate “HI” necklace… and the list goes on. I figure that if I love to wear my creations, others will as well!

JT:When did you first get setup on Etsy?

AH: I signed up on Etsy in 2008 as an observer only at the prompting of a college mate, Jessica of Silverblayze, who suggested that I turn my creative powers to a shop on that website. I opened VintageInRetrospect in September of that year to sell my knit hats, but eventually switched over to license plate concoctions. I still love to knit, though I do dedicate my store to one craft!

JT:Any tips on running a successful Etsy store?

AH: A successful Etsy store is dependent on a unique and well-made product, awesome photography, the posting or re-posting of a product every day, and enthusiastic and prompt communication.

JT:What other Etsy stores would you recommend?

AH: I work with many amazing Michigan artists at shows throughout the year, and we have a lot of fun purchasing and trading for each others’ handmade items. Some of my favorites are BootsNGus, GlassAction, and RebeccaMich. Some non-Michigan artists that I found on Etsy (and whose products I love and use all the time) are PixieGlamour, WithTheRain, and CreativeTides.

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